Politics.

"Before we get down to business, I believe congratulations are in order," Nanny Mara smiles warmly at you. You raise an eyebrow at her, and she directs your attention to Selas.

Selas looks up at you with a coy smile and slowly moves her hands away from her midsection, unveiling a not insignificant lump. You stare slack jawed in confusion, random noises coming up your throat and pointing wildly at her stomach before a weak "wha?" becomes clear. It's only been about a week. That should not be possible! Her grin widens and she moves to launch herself at you, but a swift chop at her neck from Nanny Mara knocks her back into her seat. "There will be time for explanations later. Right now, we need to decide on our next move."

"Right," Selas coughs, rubbing at her neck. "What news of back home? Our Allies? Obstacles? Potentials?"

"The Enburrs are as they have always been, Mistress," Grimmsby groans, emerging from a corridor, pushing a small high-backed chair for you. "On the verge of another conquest, to expand their influence." Selas and Nanny Mara roll their eyes and shake their heads at that. "Our ties with them are long and great, but there are rumors that Patriarch Enburr has started to look to Lusandar lands." Selas narrows her brow, grunts and nods.

"I had taken the liberty of contacting the Gurdrack Clan, who I knew you had always wanted to bring into our fold," Nanny Mara says, pulling out a scroll that one of the flying demons had deposited in her lap. "They have granted an audience with us, but want us to go into their territory. I suspect that Spikeback would be laying a trap. We have no quarrel with them, but old habits do die hard. And he is very old."

"He is, and Silence takes after him very well," Selas muses. "Send them a message. Tell them that we are glad for the audience, but given my condition, travel will be very difficult. Suggest that we use this place as a meeting ground. It's in the mortal plane. Neutral territory. Of course, in the interest of our host, we will be erecting a field to... deter unwanted exploration, from all sides." Nanny Mara nods and scribbles down a note in the corner of the scroll, before she and Grimmsby continue informing her of the political games they have back in their home.

You look on feeling nervous. This is a very different Selas you're seeing. Her face is stoic and serious, taking in information silently and letting it fester in her mind before relaying instructions. She's never been this calculative and commanding. They go on for about an hour until she holds her hand up. "Okay, okay. It's a mess as usual back there," she grumbles, rubbing her temples with her fingers. "Do we owe anyone any favors? Maybe we get that sorted out before we start thinking of the future."

Nanny Mara purses her lips in thought. "To my knowledge, the House doesn't, but I do think that you might have some with your friends."

Selas scrunches her face up and taps her thumb against her armrest. "Yeah, I remember now. I owe Lapti and Myrna a couple of solids. Maybe not Myrna. She's really into that stuff. Voi would owe me one though, that's always nice." Melting into her throne, she blows out a tired raspberry before turning to you. "What do you think? Who do we go with first?"